Geely International Hong Kong to become a new shareholder

Our parent company, Saxo Bank has received an offer from Geely International Hong Kong, a subsidiary of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd to become a key shareholder in Saxo Bank to capitalise on global growth opportunities.

Our co-founder Lars Seier Christensen has received an offer and agreed to sell his stake of 25.71 per cent of the bank to Geely pending, among other things, regulatory approvals. Certain minority shareholders are expected to exercise tag-along rights as part of the investment offer from Geely, which is expected to own 30 per cent of Saxo on completion.

Financial terms of the transaction, which is expected to be finalised by the fourth quarter of 2017, have not been disclosed. CEO and co-founder Kim Fournais said:

"Geely Group has shown an impressive ability to foster sharp and solid profitable growth in their portfolio companies, and it has a deep understanding of Scandinavian business values and culture. Geely is well known for its strong power of execution, compliance awareness and entrepreneurial spirit. I look forward to taking Saxo Bank to new highs together with our shareholders and employees. I am confident that partnering with Geely creates an even stronger foundation to capitalise on the many global opportunities and not least in the growing Chinese and Asian markets."

Saxo Bank established a China office in the Shanghai Free-Trade Zone in September 2015, and has since then signed extensive financial technology partnerships as part of its Greater China strategy.

"We look forward to partnering with Saxo Bank through this transaction to expand Geely Group’s activities in the financial services sector. Saxo Bank is a trusted trading platform with a strong reputation following more than 20 years of successful operations. The bank is a proven leader in Financial and Regulatory technology. We expect to deliver group synergies from the development of financial services both within Geely Group and the wider Chinese market."

Lars Seier Christensen, who served as co-CEO of Saxo until year end 2015, said:

"I am very proud of Saxo Bank’s achievement and our unique position as one of the strongest facilitators of global capital market access in the financial sector. I want to thank the skilled and talented employees in Saxo and my partner, Kim Fournais, for this amazing journey over the past 25 years. With a strong track record, healthy long-term vision and appreciation of our unique strengths, I am confident that Geely is the right business partner for Saxo Bank."

Kim Fournais added:

"I want to thank Lars for his huge contribution to Saxo since we founded the company together in 1992. Even though Lars will no longer have a formal stake in the firm, I know that his passion for the bank lives on and I look forward to continue our friendship."

Lone Fønss Schrøder, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saxo Bank, said:

"I have the pleasure of working with Geely in my role on the Board of Directors of Volvo Cars and I am very pleased that we are now welcoming Geely to Saxo. Geely is known to be very co-operative, have healthy values and a long-term focus on growth and value creation and at the same time they share Saxo’s entrepreneurial spirit and DNA. They understand and value Scandinavian business culture and the tremendous turnaround of Volvo and heavy investments made in Sweden should serve as a proof of their skills and strong ability to execute."

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